Festivals - Korea travel and tourism information

Jeju Fire Festival (제주들불축제)

2025-03-05

San 59-8 Bongseong-ri, Jeju-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-728-2753

Jeju Fire Festival is a representative cultural festival related to Jeju's culture of livestock care. Held every March at Saebyeoloreum Volcanic Cone, the night sky lights up with fiery red. The festival features a media façade show, torch march, fire show, and more as well as various programs and food trucks.

Nonsan Ganggyeong Salted Seafood Festival (논산강경젓갈축제)

2023-09-18

45, Geumbaek-ro, Nonsan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
+82-41-730- 2973

Nonsan Ganggyeong Salted Seafood Festival is held in the town where the largest salted seafood market in Korea is located. The salted seafood in the area is known for its long tradition and special process. During the festival period, visitors can buy salted seafood at special discounted prices.

Yangyang Songi Festival (양양송이축제)

2023-09-11

Nammun-ri, Yangyang-eup, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-33-671-3803

Yangyang Songi Festival takes place annually during the harvest season for Yangyang’s famed specialty, pine mushrooms. Visitors can purchase these mushrooms as well as mushrooms and other specialty products grown throughout the country.

Muju Firefly Festival (무주 반딧불축제)

2025-01-07

326-14 Hanpungnu-ro, Muju-eup, Muju-gun, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-324-2440

Fireflies, beloved for their twinkling tails at night, are a precious insect designated as Natural Monument No. 322 in Korea. Muju, known for its pristine environment, is a prime habitat for these enchanting creatures. The Muju Firefly Festival celebrates this natural wonder every year. Participate in the main event, “Firefly Exploration,” to experience the magic of fireflies dancing under the night sky. Additional programs include “Bandi Star Picnic,” where you can enjoy stargazing and delve into astronomy, creating unforgettable memories as fireflies light up the dark night.

◎ Tip
To avoid discomfort from insects and weather conditions, it’s advisable to wear long pants and closed shoes. Be aware that weather conditions like rain or storms may affect the visibility of fireflies during the festival.

Chunhyang Festival (춘향제)

2024-04-07

1447 Yocheon-ro, Namwon-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-620-5770

Taking place in Namwon, Chunhyang Festival celebrates the love between Chunhyang and Lee Mongryong, based on the famous Korean love story, Chunhyangjeon. Held since 1931, the festival aims to spread the story not only around Korea but to international visitors as well through hands-on experiences and moving performances. The highlight of the festival is the beauty pageant that attracts many people.

Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival (진주 남강유등축제)

2025-01-07

287 Gangnam-ro, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-761-9111

The Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival is an event that continues the practice of making wishes by floating colorful lanterns down the Namgang River. This practice of over 400 years originated from the Siege of Jinju in 1592. The festival begins at sunset when lanterns of various shapes and sizes are lit on the Namgang River. World Pungmul lanterns, wish lanterns, traditional lanterns, religious lanterns, and customized lanterns embroider the night with colorful lights. Fireworks and lighting shows are held against the backdrop of this beautiful night view, along with various cultural shows. The festival operates food trucks where visitors can enjoy delicious foods from around the world.

◎ The Siege of Jinju and Yudeung
During the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, yudeung (oil lanterns) were lit in the battle at Jinjuseong Fortress to stop the Japanese army from crossing the Namgang River. The lanterns were also used as a means of contacting families outside the fortress.

Cheonan World Dance Festival (천안흥타령춤축제)

2025-01-08

208 Beonyeong-ro, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
+82-41-900-7020

The Cheonan World Dance Festival is a global event that brings everyone together through dance, transcending nationalities and language barriers. Dancers from all over the world gather in Cheonan to participate in various festival programs. The National Dance Competition is the highlight of the festival, with a total prize of about KRW 100 million. There is also the Street Dance Parade across the city center and the International Dance Competition in which dance teams from across the globe participate. Other shows include the energetic performances of the National University Cheerleading Competition and the exciting “Improv Dance Battle,” where everyone can join in on the fun.

Chuncheon Mime Festival (춘천마임축제)

2025-01-03

All around Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-252-0581

The Chuncheon International Mime Festival is recognized as one of the world’s top three mime festivals, alongside France’s Mimos Mime Festival and the London International Mime Festival in the UK. The festival kicks off with “City of Water: Ah! Surajang,” transforming the city center into a massive water park. The highlight of the festival is the fire performance “City of Fire: Dokkaebi Nanjang,” which lights up the dark night. During the festival, various performances based on “body, movement, and image” are held throughout Chuncheon. As a performing arts festival connecting the city, art, and its citizens, it continues to grow in popularity as one of Korea’s leading performance festivals.

Hadong Wild Tea Cultural Festival (하동 야생차문화축제)

2025-01-06

571-25 Ssanggye-ro, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-880-2052

The Hadong Wild Tea Cultural Festival is a fragrant celebration in Hadong, a region renowned for its green tea, historically known as the “king’s tea” due to its royal offerings. The Hadong 1000-Year Dahyang Trail is perfect for leisurely walks, connecting hills and tea fields with decked paths and narrow village roads. Following the successful “World Tea Expo 2023 Hadong, Korea,” the festival solidified Hadong’s reputation as a “tea-refreshing cultural city.” The diverse program includes tea cup busking, moving art galleries, music and art spaces, tea classes, book discussions, meditation and refreshing programs, and trekking on the 1000-Year Dahyang Trail, providing ample opportunity to fully experience Hadong and its tea culture.

◎ 1000-Year Dahyang Trail
Hadong’s proximity to the Seomjingang River results in frequent fog and high humidity, coupled with significant temperature variations, creating an ideal environment for tea cultivation. Historical records indicate that tea has been grown here for a thousand years, marking Hadong as the birthplace of Korean tea cultivation.

Hampyeong Butterfly Festival (함평나비대축제)

2025-01-07

27 Gonjea-ro, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-320-2238

The arrival of spring, the blooming of flowers, and the fluttering of butterflies signal the beginning of the Butterfly Festival in Hampyeong. The festival holds exhibitions on flowers, butterflies, and insects, as well as cultural and art performances featuring various stories about the environment. There are also displays of butterfly and insect specimens from around the world at the Butterfly Ecology Center. Visitors can enjoy various eco-activities, including kite flying, a visit to the dairy farm, and traditional folk games. The most popular activity for families is trapping butterflies in small bottles and setting them free in the flower gardens. At the festival, there is also a food market and a special performance for visitors on Children’s Day.

Festivals - Korea travel information